Transmission operating means



ou. e, 1942. H. E. HRUSKA 2,298,012

TRANSMISSION'OPERATING MEANS Filed June 17. 193s 4 sheets-snaai 1 *L /04 /00 'y A TORNEY.

rrOct. 6, 1942. -H.IE. HRUSKA` S 2,298,012

TRANSMISSION OPERATING MEANS Filed June 17, 19:59 4 shams-sheet.2'

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//0 ID-IVEN TOR BY Afan/,M0 TAW/5M 72 t:

' AT ORNEY.

Oct. 6, H. HRUSKA n TRANsMrssIoN OPERATINGMEANS Filed June 17,'1959 4 sheets-sheet s I INVENTOR. Ham/sw I rf/Pam BY .l Y m ATTORNEY.

TRANSMISSION OPERATING MEANS Fileduune 17, 19:59 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVEN TOR.

BY I

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 6, 1942 Howard E. Hruska, South Bend, Ind.,

assignmto Bendix vAviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation ot Delaware Application June 17, 1939, Serial No. 279,670 2 Claims. (Cl. 74-335) This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularlyto power means for operating the change-speed transmissions there'of.

There have been proposed various substitutes for the transmission, the transmission gear shifting lever, various positions for the shifting lever, and other modifications of the present generally used system, all designed for the purpose of simplifying the operations required of the driver. Some of these proposals are automatic, or semiautomatic, in their action, but most of them are more-complicated to design, to manufacture and to service than is the construction now in general use, and they are, for these reasons, objectionable. On the other hand, there are definite objections to the construction now in general use and there is definite need for improvement, if such improvement may be accomplishedwithout running into the complications which form so powerful an obstacle to the prior proposals.

One of the objections to the present system is the length of movement required of the gear shift lever or, if the movement is small, the relatively large force required to move said lever.

It is therefore one of the Objects of the present invention to provide a transmission gear control ,mechanism so constituted as to avoid the abovereferred-to difficulties.

A further object is to provide, in a manually controlled power operated gear shifting mechanism, a novel control apparatus therefor including an arrangement insuring that the extent of movement of the gear shifting member will be substantially proportional to the extent of movement of the control member, whereby an exceedingly accurate control may be exercised by the operator over the shifting of the gears. Such a mechanism is known in the art as a follow-up control, and in the preferred embodiment of my invention there is disclosed a so-called pressure sensitive type of follow-up valve for controlling a pressure differential operated motor operable to establish the transmission in any one of its four settings.

A still further object is to provide a iluid pressure operated power gear shifting mechanism having a relatively small manually operable control member, which may be mounted on the steering post beneath the steering wheel, and means controlled thereby in such a manner that the movements of such control member to effect a shifting of the transmission gears will be resisted by a force proportional to the force exerted by the transmission operating power means, whereby a so-called feel" or reaction to shifting will be experienced by the operator ina manner simulating the reaction encountered in manually shifting transmission gears in the conventional manner.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a double-acting4 pressure differential operated motoroperably connected to the shift rail operating mechanism within the transmission, said motor being controlled by a valve located remote from the motor, the linkage interconnecting the motor, valve, transmission operating mechanism and selector means for controlllngthe operation of the valve being constructed and arranged to eiect the aforementioned iollow-up and feel operations of the mechanism.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in a transmission operating power mechanism, va floating lever connected to a pressure differential operated motor and also' connected to a motor controlling valve, theA fulcrum of said lever changing during the operation of said mechanism to effect first an opening of the valve and then either a closing of the valve or a lapping action thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a power means for operating the transmission, a linkage constructed to make possible an operation of the transmission solely by the physical effort of the driver, should the power means fail, or to make possible an operation of thel transmission by the eiort of the driver coupled with the force exerted by the power means.

Other objects of the invention and desirable details of construction and combinations of parts will become apparent from the following detailed description of certain `embodiments of the invention', taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating said embodiments, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the Vprincipal elements of the transmission operating mechanism constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention; k

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the valve for controlling the transmission operating motor;

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views, taken on the lines 3-3 and 44 respectively of Figure 2, disclosing details of the double-acting reactionary control valve of my invention; Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the control valve, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view, partly in section, disclosing,

in detail the manually operated selector located beneath the steering Wheel;

Figure '1 is a sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 8, disclosing another embodiment ures 7, 8 and 9 incorporated in a transmission operating mechanism.

'I'here are disclosed in Figure 1 .the principal elements of the transmission operating mechanism constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention. 'I'he numeral I0 indicates ya standard transmission provided with the usual shiftv rails, a crank I2 serving to actuate mechanism for selecting one or the other of the rails to be actuated and a three-armed crank I4 serving to actuate mechanism for moving the selected rail to establish the transmission in the desired gear ratio. 'I'his transmission, including the .shift rails, the rail selecting mechanism and the rail operating mechanism, is not disclosed in detail, inasmuch as it constitutes` a part of practically all automotive vehicles now being manufactured.

Describing now the transmission operating mechanism constituting my invention, when the driver desires to select the low and reverse gear rail, he, of course, first disengages the clutch. He then lifts up a selector lever I8, that is, moves it a slight distance counterclockwise in a plane perpendicular to the planeof the steering wheel 20.` Such movement results in the downward movement of a rod 22 slidable within a tube 24 secured to the steering column 26 by brackets 28 and 30. As disclosed in Figure 6, the lever I8, which is located immediately beneath the steering wheel is pivotally lconnected to a pin 82 mounted in a casing 34, one end of the lever being connected to the upper end of the rod 22. The crank I2, which actuates the rail selecting mechanism, is connected to the rod 22 by a link 36 and a lbell crank 38, the latter being pivotally mounted upon a bracket 40 secured to the steering column. The lifting up of the selector lever I8 results 'in a clockwise rotation of the crank 88, thereby actuating the rail selecting mechanism and making possible the subsequent actuation of the low and reverse shift rail to place the transmission either in low or reverse gear.

It will be assumed that the vehicle is at rest, with the engine idling, and that the driver desires to place the transmission in low gear. After the above-described disengagementI of the clutch and after the :rail selecting operation has been com-k pleted, the selector I8 is rotated clockwise in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the plane of the steering wheel, thereby rotating theA tube 24. To the lower end of the tube there is .secured a crank 42 pivotally connected at its end by a pin 44 to a bar 46, which functions as a floating lever member; that is, its fulcrum may c hange to thereby change the lever from a lever of the third class, when the valve is opened, to a lever of the first class, when-the valve is being lapped. To one end of the bar 46 there is pivotally connected a link 48 and to the other end a link 50. Link 48 is connected at its other end to a double-acting reactionary or pressure sensitive follow-up to lap type of valve mechanism l62 secured to the steering column by a bracket 5'4, said .arm of the crank I4, and to another arm of the crank there is pivotally connected the connecting rod 60 secured to the piston 82 of the motor 66, kwhich is preferably air suspended. 'I'he motor 66 is secured to the casing of the transmission by a' bracket 58.

Describing now the valve mechanism disclosed in detail in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, a'cylindrically-shaped -body member64, preferably a casting, is shaped to provide-recesses 66 and 68 and annular grooves 10 and 12 encircling said recesses. Flexible diaphragms 14v and 16, which may be defined as pressure sensitive valve members, and cup-shaped cover plates 18 and 80 are secured, by fastenings 82, to the sides of the body member 64, and disk-like valve operating mem- -bers'84 and 86 complete the valve mechanism. The member 84 is xedly secured to the end of al pin 81 slidably mounted through the center of the body member 64, and the meiner 86 is slidably mounted upon'the end of -the link 48 adjacent a cone-shaped end flange 8-9, which abuts the end of the pin 81. Spring members 88, in-

terposed between the plates 18 and 80 and the tain the diaphragms in contact with the side faces of the body member 64. The diaphragms and cover plates are provided with openings 90 and 93 respectively to vent compartments 92 and 94 of the air-suspended motor 56 to the atmosphere, when the parts of my transmission operating mechanism are in their transmission'neutral positions disclosed in the figures of the drawings. Conduits 86 and 88 and ducts |00, |02, |04 and |06 in the -body portion -64 of the valve complete the means for placing the compartments 92 and 94 of the motor in air transmitting connection with the recesses 66 and 68 of the valve.

Continuing the description of the operation of the mechanism to"place the transmission in low gear, when the selector I8 is rotated in a clockwise direction, that is, toward the. driver, the crank 42 is also rotated clockwise and the bar 46 is moved counterclockwise about its pivot |08, thereby placing the link 48 under' compression and moving it to open the valve 52. The rail locking mechanism of the transmission, such as the usual detents and cooperating spring loaded pins, and the friction of the parts Will serve to make this operation possible, that is, the bar 46 will fulcrum at |08v as the valve is being opened. The movement of the link 48 to the left as disclosed in Figure l, which is to the right as disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, will result in the disk 84 contacting the diaphragm or valve member 14, cutting off the communication between the atmosphere and the compartment 92 of the motor. Continued movement of the link will of springs 88, away from an annular valve seat |10, thereby interconnecting the compartment 92 with a source of vacuum, such, for example, as the intake manifold, not shown, of the vehicle. Describing this connection, a conduit H2, leading to the source of vacuum, is connected to a port I I4 in th'e valve body member. As disclosed in Figures 2 and 5, this port communicates with a recess II6, which, in turn, communicates with the aforementioned annular grooves 10 and 12. Thus, when the disk 84 moves the diaphragm 14 outwardly, against the resistance of the springs 88, the diaphragm is unseated. The compartment 92 of the motor is' then connected to the source of vacuum via conduit H2, port II4, recess H6, groove 10, recess 66, ducts |04 and |00, and conduit 96. In this operation, the springs 00 quickly go solid, thereby abruptly stopping the movement of the diaphragm after it is unseated. When the gaseous pressure within the recess 66 s below atmospheric, that is, when said recess is connected with the source of vacuum, the diaphragm 14 is subjected to a differential of pressures tending to move it to the left, Figure 4. 'I'his force, which is known in the art as feel, must be overcome by the driver in order to maintain the valve open.

Upon being connected to the vacuum source, air within the motor compartment 92 is withdrawn, resulting in the piston 62 .being subjected to a differential of pressures; for the motor compartment 94 is at the time vented to the atmosphere via conduit 98, ducts |02 and |06, recess 68 and ports 90 and 93 in the diaphragm 16 and plate 80 respectively. ingly, the piston 62 and its connected low and reverse shift rail immediately start moving toward their low gear positions.

The driver of the vehicle in all probability will continue the movement of the selector lever once started, which movement will maintain the valve open, that is, the disk 84 will remain in the position just described. Most of the transmissions of the day are equipped with a so-called synchronizer mechanism functioning to bring the driving and driven gears to the same speedl before they may be meshed. As this mechanism is functioning, movement of the shift rail is momentarily stopped, and yin the transmission operating mechanism of my invention the motor piston 62 and bar 46 also stop moving. However, air continues to be withdrawn from the recess 66 and motorv compartment 92, resulting in a further decrease in gaseous pressure within said recess and compartment. Accordingly, as a result of the decrease in gaseous pressure within the recess 66, the force necessary to maintain the selector lever I8 in position progressively increases while the synchronizer is functioning. It may be noted that such reaction or feel is present at all times while the valve is open and is directly proportional to the force exerted by the piston 62 upon the crank M, for it should be remembered that the gaseous pressure within the compartment 92 and recess 66 is the same at all times. It should also be noted that this socalled feel in the power operated transmission operating mechanism of my invention simulates the' resistance to movement of a gear shift lever extending from the floorboard of the drivers compartment, as said lever is being actuated to place the manually operatedv transmission in gear. This type of transmission operating mechanism has been conventional equipment in practically all automotive vehicles manufactured until a recent date. Q

Should the driver desire to aid the motor 56 in effecting the low gear operation of the transmission, he may add his physical effort, for, after the valve springs 83 go solid, the pivot H8, Figure 1, become a fulcrum, and the bar t6 is then rotated or tends to rotate clockwise, under the action of both the motor and the physical eiort of the driver.

It should also be noted that in the event of complete failure of the motor the shift rails may be operated solely by the physical effort of the driver.

Should the movement of the selector lever be momentarily stopped, when the piston 62 and its connected shift rail arein motion and before the synchronizer begins to function, the pivot 4I then becomes a fulcrum for the bar I6, which then functions as a lever of the f'lrst class.y The bar is then rotated clockwise about the pivot 4I, resulting in a lapping of the valve, that is, the reseating of the diaphragm valve member 1l. All moving parts come to a standstill and the system is then in equilibrium. This operation is known in the lart as a follow-up action of the valve, and by virtue of this operation the motor piston 62 is said to follow the movement of the manually operated selector lever i8.

Accord- A A lapping action of the valve may possibly' occur immediately after the synchronizer begins to function, for at that time the driver, Who is probably then adding his physical effort to the motor, senses the additional effort necessary to move the selector, and, instead of increasing his physical eiort involuntarily, sol controls this effort as to permit the piston of the motor to move suciently to lap the valve. It is assumed of course that the brake mechanism of the synchronizer will yield sumciently to permit this slight movement.

After the synchronizer has completed its operation, thus appreciably decreasing the resistance to movement of the selector, the movement of the selector, the bar d6, the piston 62, the shift rail and all connections is resumed, probably at a higher rate of speed, to complete the establishment of the transmission in low gear. In this resumed operation of the mechanism the valve, of course, may again be opened. The clutch is then engaged and the throttle opened.

After the vehicle has4 been sufciently accelerated in low gear, and it is desired to place the transmission in second gear or high gearythe clutch is again ,disengaged and the selector is then rotated counterclockwise, resulting in a complete reversal of the direction of movement of the above-described parts `of the mechanism. The drift-lock or detents of the transmission acting to hold the low and reverse shift rail in its low gear position will result in the pivot |08 again becoming a fixed fulcrum to make possible an opening of the valve. 'Ihe bar 46 again acting as a lever of the third class will then rotate clockwise about the pivot |08 to open the valve by effecting a movement of the disk 66 to the left, Figure 3. It is believed unnecessary to describe in detail the remainder of the operation of the mechanism, for such operation will be obvious from an inspection of the figures of the drawings andA from a reading of the foregoing description. As to the operation of the valve, the valve operating disk 86 functions to unseat and permit a seating of the valve member 16 in the same manner'as the member 84 functions to operate the valve member 14.

When the selector I8 and piston 62 reach 'their central positions, that is', their transmission neutral positions, a spring |20, Figure 6, aided by a spring |22 acting on the crank i2, functions automatically to move the selector and crank to thereby so actuate the rail selecting mechanism of the transmission as to 'prepare the transmission either for a high gear or a second gear operation. In this operation, the selector I8 rotates clockwise in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the steering Wheel. Again it will be obvious from the previously given detailed description of the mechanism that subsequent counter-clockwise or clockwise rotation will result in establishing the transmission either in second or in high gear respectively. Reverse gear, .of course, is establishedl by lifting the selector lever and then rotating it counterclockwise.

There is disclosed in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 another embodiment of my invention including a double-acting pressure sensitive control valve which functions in the same manner as the valve disclosed in Figures 3, 4 and 5. This embodiment differs from that disclosed in the latter figures only in the valve for controlling the transmission operating motor and in a small portion of the linkage for operating the same.

Referring to Figure 7, the body or casing |2| of the valve is provided with recesses |23 and |24 'in its side Walls. Flexible diaphragms |26 and |28 serve as valve operating members, and these diaphrag-ms are covered by cup-shaped plates |32 and |34 provided with vent ports |36. Both the -diaphragmsand the plates are secured to the valve body member |2| by fastenings |30. To the diaphragm |28 there aresecured cup-shaped stampings i 38 and |40, the stamping |40 being provided at its center with an opening to receive a pin |42, the bent end portion |44 of said pin passing through an opening in a yoke |46. This member is pivotally mounted upon a clamp member |50 extending from the valve body member |2|. To the central portion of the diaphragm |26 there are secured cup-shaped stampings |52 and |54, the latter having an opening in its center to receive a pin |56 having a bent end portion |58 extending through an opening in one end of the yoke |46.

There are disclosed in detail in Figure 9 and diagrammatically in Figure the mounting for the Valve member and the linkage for operating- 1 the valve. As disclosed in Figure 9, the valve body member |2| is extended to provide the clamp member |50, which is secured to the steering column- |62 by a clamp member |63 and by bolts |64 and |66. A pin |68, extending through an opening in the yoke |46 and the clamp member |50, provides a pivotal mounting for the yoke. The yoke is rocked to operate the valve by linkage including a crank |10 secured by a split boss |12 to a tube |14, the latter being a duplicate of the tube 24, disclosed in Figure 1. A oating lever |16 is pivotally mounted at |18 to a pin |80 extending from the end of the crank |10, and this lever is connected to a transmission operating crank |82 by Aa link |84 and to the yoke |46 Figure 6. n brief, the mechanism just describef4 is a duplicate of the mechanism for operating the crank |2 disclosed in Figure 1.

The selector |88 is then rotated clockwise to place the transmission in low gear. By this operation the link |86 is placed in compression and the yoke |46 is rocked in a clockwise direction, the pin |42 moving the plates |38 and |40 to the left, Figure 7. The plate |38 is moved into contact with a valve member 204 and moves the same oi! its seat, that is, the end face of a tubular central portion 206 oi.' the valve body member |2|. The diaphragm |28 and the stampings |38 and 40 constitute a valve operating member A compartment 208 of a double-ended motor 2|0 is thus connected with the source of vacuum via by a link |86. The links |84 and |86 are connected to the upper and lower ends respectively of the floating lever |16, and it will be apparent that this valve operating linkage functions in the same manner as the valve operating linkage of the mechanism disclosed in Figure 1.

The operation of the transmission operating mechanism disclosed in Figures '1-10 inclusive, and particularly the double-acting pressure sensensitive valve, will now be describedin detail. Incidentally, this description of the operation oi' the mechanism will complete the description of the construction.

The clutch is disengaged and a selector |88, Figure l0, is then rotated counterclockwise in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the steering wheel |90. This movement of the selector serves to move a rod |92 downwardly to rotate a crank |94 clockwise to eil'ect a selection of the low and reverse shift rail of the change-speed transmission |96. A crank |98, connected to the shift rail selecting mechanism of the transmission, is connected to the crank |94 by a link -200. The rod |92 is connected to the selector |88 by a connection 202, duplicating the connection disclosed in low and reverse the oorboard.

a conduit 2|2, the duct provided by the tubular central portion 206, a central opening 2|4 in the cup-shaped stamping |38, recess |24, ducts 2|6 and 2|8 in the body portion |2| and a con duit 220. Air is thus withdrawn from the compartment 208, and at the sametime a compartment 222 of the motor 2|0 is vented to the atmosphere via a conduit 224, ducts 226 and 228 in the body member |2I, recess |23, opening 230 in the stamping |52, openings 232 in the stamping |54 and the openings |36 in the cover plate |32. The piston or power element 234 of the motor is thus subjected to a differential of pressures, resulting in its movement to the left, Figure 10, to rotate the crank |82 and move the shift rail to place the transmission in low gear.

Should the movement of the selector |88 be stopped before. it reaches its low gear position, the piston will continue moving, and, as previously described, the lever |18 will fulcrum at |18 and rotate clockwise. This movement reverses the direction of rdtation of the yoke |46 to la.. the valve member 204, that is, to permit a valve spring 236 to reseat said member. When the valve is lapped, the connection between the source of vacuum andthe compartment 208 is momentarily cut off, and the motor piston 234 comes to a stop. The system is then in equilibrium. This follow-up action of the valve makes possible a movement of the crank |82 corresponding to the movement of the selector, which, of course, simulates a manual operation of the transmission by means of a shift lever extending from It should also vbe noted that the .mechanism disclosed in Figures '7-10 inclusive provides the so-called feel, that is, a resistance to movement of the selector in direct proportion to the force exerted by the motor piston; for whenfthe valve member 204 is unseated during the above-described operation of placing the transmission in low gear, the recess |24, or rather a compartment defined by said recess, the diaphragm |28 and stamping |38, is partially evacuated to the same degree as the motor compartment 208. Accordingly, the diaphragm 28, stamping |38 and valve are subjected to a differential of pressures tending to rotate the yoke. |46 counterclockwise; for the outer face of these members is subject to atmospheric pressure, the air being admitted via openings |36.

Low gear having been established, the clutcl. is engaged and the throttle is opened to accelerate the vehicle to the desired speed. If the driver then desires to place the transmission in seconc gear, the -clutch is again disengaged and the selector is ,rotated counterclockwise. This places the link |86 in tension, the lever-bar |16 rotating clockwise. The movement of the link |86 eects a counterclockwise rotation of the yoke |48. The stamping |52 contacts a valve member 238 and moves it oi! its seat.l The compartment 222 of the motor is then connected to the source of vacuum, resulting in the piston 284 moving to the right to rotate the crank |82 counterclockwise to place the transmission in second gear. This piston movement takes place inasmuch as the compartment 208 of the motor is at the time vented to the atmosphere, resulting in a differential of pressures acting upon the piston. It will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings and from a consideration of the foregoing description that both the follow-up and feel operations of the mechanism will be leffected in placing the transmission Vin second gear. Ac-

cordingly, it is believed unnecessary to againl describe these functions Yin detail. It may be added that if either the valve spring 238 or a valve spring 240 goes solid the valve unit becomes a stop. Accordingly,- should the power means fail, the vcrank |82 may be rotated solely by the physical effort of the driver: and as with the mechanism of Figures valve becomes a stop, the driver may add his physical effort to the then operating motor to place the transmission in gear.

There is thus provided a very simple and compact shift rail selecting and operating mechanism, the operation of the selector I8 cr the selector |88 closely simulating the operation of a manually operated transmission including a shift lever extending from the floorboard of the driver's compartment.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certain specic embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an automotive vehicle provided with a transmission having shift rails, means for moving one or another of said rails to establish the 1-6 inclusive, if the transmission in gear including a pressure' differential operated motor, a manually operated selector, a valve mechanism for controlling the loperation of said motor including a plurality of pressure sensitive valve members for controlling the flow of power fluid to and from the motor by the seating and `unseating of said members, said mechanism being constructed so that one or the other of the valve members, after being moved to open the valve, is subjected to a force resulting from a differential of pressures to which the valve member is then subjected. said force resisting the maintenance of the valve member in its valve open position, and linkage interconnecting the selector, power element of the motor, the valve members and the transmission, said linkage including a floating lever member, and further including a link interconnecting the valve members and lever, said linkage being so constructed and arranged that when the selector is operated to open the valve said link is moved in one direction, and subsequent to this operation the aforementioned' resisting action of the then acting valve member tends to move lsaid link in the opposite direction.

2. In an automotive vehicle the combination 'l with a steering column and a transmission having a member shiftable to provide different gear ratios, means for operating the transmission including a double-acting pressure diiferential operated motor, a double-acting valve mechanism located remotely from the motor for controlling the operation thereof, said valve mechanism being secured to the steering column by a bracket, a manually operated selector member mounted adjacent the upper end of the steering column, and force transmitting means interconnecting said selector, valvemechanism and the power element of the transmission operating motor, said force transmitting means including a floating lever member, a link interconnecting one end of said member with the valve mechanism and means interconnecting the center of the lever with the selector.

HOWARD E. HRUSKA 

